Friday 2 November 2012

Come join Oliver for a fun and upbeat 'Welcome' to the Friends for Life conference. Jeff Hitchcock and Laura Billetdeaux will also be on hand to preview what to expect over the next few days during the conference.

Saturday 3 November 2012

Tom is known to say: "just don't do nothing." It is a raw deal, diabetes. No one wanted it, but diabetes is in your life. You own diabetes or it owns you. Tom will discuss the many ways you can make a difference in the world around you. He will encourage you to take 'life with diabetes' and journey a road that will make a positive impact which can transform the lives of your entire family.

Sir Michael Hirst, incoming president of IDF, will present an introduction before the session. Dr. Randell was instrumental in developing the Best Practice Tariff for paediatric diabetes in England. This Tariff sets out clear minimum standards of care for diabetes management and is intended to raise the level of care and improve incomes for children with type 1 diabetes. Learn what the Best Practice Tariff encompasses, and how it may impact the care your child receives.

CWD mums have a lot to say ... and 75 minutes is probably just enough time to barely scratch the surface of some really good topics. Join Jackie and Jacqui for some quality discussion time – a good 'jumping off' point for further discussion throughout the weekend.

Join three dads with kids with diabetes as they moderate discussion among dads. This unique discussion group tackles real problems facing real families and you will come to realize just how 'not alone' you are.

There are so many infusion sets on the market right now—picking the right one can be mind-boggling in and of itself. What are the differences between angled vs straight-in insertions? Why is a 6mm cannula different than a 9mm in terms of function, and who should use each? Which infusion sets go in by hand and which have an insertion device? Which sets are proprietary to specific pumps, and which can be used with any pump? How do you get an infusion set to stick—and then how do you get it off when it's really stuck? If you are considering a cgm, what are the things to learn about the differences between sensors? Natalie has a sense of humor about all of this—and not only will she give you tons of information, she will have you laughing in your seat as you make sense of it all!

How To Get The Best Pump Support
Presenter: Lesley Jordan
Location: Windsor 6

This session will address the recent changes in how paediatric diabetes clinics are run, including all the steps that clinics are expected to take in order to get reimbursement. What you can expect from your clinic? Where can you find the best self-education to supplement what you learned in clinic? How and when should you consider changing clinics? The session will also explore effective communication from both the patient and clinician perspective.

This discussion group is an opportunity for adults with type 1 to get together and share whatever is on their mind. Joe Solo has had type 1 diabetes for over 50 years; he will have you laughing and crying ... sometimes at once.

15:00-15:45 – Snack break in Hanover Lounge

15:45-17:00 - Sessions

Introduction to Pumping
Presenter: Gary Scheiner
Location: Hanover 1

Are you thinking about changing from multiple daily injections to an insulin pump? Find out basics about pumping in this informative session. Insulin pump terminology and the "how-to's" of pumping will be discussed.

Exercise with sports is a great way to keep blood sugars in control. Francesca will present ways to be successful and smart with all kinds of sports activities during practice and competition. Learn ways to prevent hypoglycemia both during and hours after exercise and competition.

In this session we will explore the different phases of growth and see how the growth hormone system interacts with diabetes. We will look at how growth hormone works in puberty and some devise some tips for dealing with the growth roller coaster.

How do you control diabetes when your child is sick? Rebecca will provide information about proper sick day guidelines and answer questions about scenarios you or your child may have experienced. Topics will include: proper hydration, ketone testing, guidelines for nausea, vomiting, etc, when and what to eat when sick and much more.

Being a parent takes a certain set of skills. Being a parent with a teen with type 1 diabetes takes that same set of skills… and then some. Both Natalie and Marissa work with teens with type 1 at all CWD conferences. They have learned over the years how to promote effective parenting with a teen with type 1. Come bring your stories and questions!

Are you confused about all of the advanced pump features and how they can help with diabetes management? Gary will review what the various options are and how they can effectively be integrated to get the best blood sugar control. This session is for people who have been pumping at least several months and are comfortable with the basic concepts of pumping insulin.

Children with diabetes spend a great deal of time in school and daycare. These facilities need to provide a safe environment for children with diabetes. This session led by mothers of children with diabetes will discuss these issues and will briefly cover how to implement a care plan for a child with diabetes. There will be lots of time for questions and discussion, so please bring your thoughts and be ready to share.

During the 2011 Friends for Life conference, Peter Hindmarsh and Rebecca Thompson took many questions and concerns from parents who attended their session, and they promised to come back in 2012 with updates and answers. This is that follow-up session, as promised.

Meal planning, and in particular carbohydrate counting, is one of the most important skills for anyone with type 1 diabetes to master in order to assure optimal blood sugar control. Come join Francesca as she presents some valuable and practical information and tips to become an expert carbohydrate counter.

The emotional side of diabetes is often overlooked, but it's so important because many people do experience burnout. They are simply overwhelmed by the day-to-day demands of diabetes. Feeling overwhelmed makes it almost impossible to take good care of your diabetes. This session presents ways to prevent or overcome diabetes burnout and is applicable whether you are a person with diabetes, a family member experiencing "secondary" diabetes burnout, or a health care professional trying to make sense of it all.

This discussion group is an opportunity for single parents with children with type 1 to get together and share whatever is on their mind. Please come and share your thoughts, challenges, and solutions.

12:15-13:45 – Lunch in Main Beaumont Dining Room

13:45-15:00 - Sessions

Making Sense of Sensors
Presenter: Gary Scheiner
Location: Hanover 1

If your child is on a CGMS (continuous glucose monitoring system) device or you are thinking about starting one for your child, come listen to Gary describe the pros and cons of CGMS and how to make sense of the extensive data that comes with such a system. Gary will elaborate on how to focus on CGMS trends rather than comparing CGMS data with blood glucose results.

It's Not Just a Numbers Game
Presenter: Joe Solowiejczyk
Location: Hanover 2

Diabetes is so much more than just measuring blood glucose values and counting carbs. It involves family dynamics, school, caregivers, growth, feelings, and most of all- an entire family. Join family counselor Joe Solowiejczyk for a new look at type 1 diabetes. It is more than just a numbers game.

Dr Peakman will introduce the concept of the immune system causing type 1, and move on to discuss the current options for using that knowledge for therapeutic advancement. Topics will include the landscape of immune therapy options as they exist today and when they might be deployed (pre-disease; at onset; later?). Finally, Dr Peakman will review and contrast a couple of the different types of approaches, including the track being pursued at King's.

Learn tips to maximize performance and maintain normal blood sugar during practice and competition while using an insulin pump or injecting insulin. Learn about and how to effectively use advance pump features and effective insulin management to prevent hypoglycemia.

As Tom Karlya encouraged on Saturday morning, "Just don't do nothing." Ok .. so what are next steps? How do I get involved? Learn from the experts – three parents who have kids with type 1, and who have become leaders in advocacy in the UK and the U.S.

Transitions during the elementary school years can be stressful enough without diabetes. Learn how to identify and manage these life transitions, how to talk about them with your children, and how to begin making sense of the additional diabetes challenges that might happen during these same times.

15:00-15:45 – Snack break in Hanover Lounge

15:45-17:00 - Session

Closing Keynote
Presenter: Jeff Hitchcock
Location: Hanover Ballroom

Jeff Hitchcock, President of CWD and dad of Marissa, will wrap up the fourth annual FFL UK conference with a presentation summarizing current care suggestions for caring with a child with diabetes.

Last Updated: Monday February 24, 2014 14:34:08
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